Roving-frame.



T. OCONNELL.

ROVING FRAME.

APPLICATION FILED OCT.3I

Patented Aug. 24, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

El mmmu WITNE 88158 ATTORNEY LQLUMBXA PLANOGRAPH CD..WASHXNGTON. n. c.

T. O-CONNELL.

ROVING FRAME. APPtlCATlON FILED 0CT.31.1913.

Patented Aug. 24, 1915.

2 SHEETS SHEET 2.

IN l E N TOR ATTORNEY COLUMBIA FLANDGRAPH co., WASHINGTON. u. c.

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TIMOTHY OCONNELL, OE: HOLYOKE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE WI-IITIN MACHINE WORKS, OF 'WHITINSVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

ROWING-FRAME.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented An 2%, 1915.

Application filed October 31, 1913. Serial No. 798,447.

Massachusetts, have mvented the following described Improvements in Roving-Frames.

The invention is a preventive device in the nature of an attachment to roving frames, intended to insure that the adjustment of the tensionof the roving be made properly, by change of the twist gear, rather than by any other easier but improper method.

The common, although prohibited, method among roving frame operatives is to adjust the position of the cone belt when the roving appears not to have the proper tension. This procedure may eradicate the outward manifestation of the improper tension but at the same time introduces serious defects in the quality of the roving on the bobbins, as is well known. To prevent 'such improper adjustment of the frame and consequent damage to the roving, I have devised a lock and safety mechanism which can be applied to any type of roving frame without interfering with the normal operation of the machine, and which consists in the combination with the tension mechanism or one of the parts thereof, of means which will prevent manual change of the setting of tension mechanism orthe cone belt, during the period intervening between the starting of the frame in operation and the end of the run when the bobbins are ready to be doffed. The tension mechanism and the advance of the cone belt is therefore confined to a determinate operation from the beginning to the end of the run irrespective of the efforts of the operator, and correction of the tension is compelled to be made at the twist gear, by removingit and substituting another with more or less teeth, which is the only proper method of correction.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown only so much of an ordinary roving frame as will be necessary to indicate to The parts shown comprise one of the mtermediate samsons 1,

of the frame of the machine, the cone belt rack bar 2 of the ten- 2 a section thereof on line 22 sionrnechanism, the upright winding back shaft 3 carrying the rack pinion a and the handwheel 5 at the head of such shaft, the gear train 6 by which the shaft is driven, the bevel gear 7 of such train, the driving pinion 8 for such bevel gear and its shaft 9, the contact mechanism represented generally by 10 and serving to drive the said shaft, the cones 11 and 12, the cone belt 13 and the cone belt fork 1%, which is secured to and shifted by the cone belt rack 2 above mentioned. The bevel pinion 8 is mounted in a journal block 15 which is supported by a bracket 17 and suspended therein by a strap 16 so as to maintain the pinion in mesh with its driven gear 7 or out of mesh therewith asindicated by the dotted lines according as the tension mechanism or belt rack 2 is tobe connected or disconnected from automatic operation by the machine. The upper end of the strap 16 is connected to the arm 18 on the knock-off lever of the machine, which lever is subject to a counterforce represented by a weight 19 tending to operate it so as to lift the bevel pinion out of engagement with the bevel gear 7 whenever the weight is allowed to act. The same knock-off lever controls the power, through another arm 2O engaging the shipper shaft 20' and is arranged therewith so that when the counterweight is allowed to act it will also throwoif the power at the same time as the pinion Sis disconnected from the tension train 6. The knock-0E lever, however, is normally kept inactive by means of its third arm 21, which carries on an offset stud 21, a pivoted latch 22. The end or shoulder 23 of this latch engages the margin of a hole in the frame samson 1, when in its latching or looking. position, and so long as it engages this abutment it holds the counterweight suspended and inactive. In this position, which is indicated in Fig. 1, the bevel pini'ons are in mesh and the machine is in operation. During such operation, and as will be well understood, the contact mechanism 1O impartsintermittent rotationto the shaft 9 and through the pinions 8 and 7 and the gear train 6, shaft 3 and pinion 4:, the said shaft moves the rack 2 with a step by step motion, in a right-hand direction as viewed in Fig. 1, which shifts the cone belt accordingly so as to decrease the speed of rotation of the bobbins as their diameters fill. Toward the end of this movement of the rack 2, a collar or cam projection 24s used to return the belt to the other end of the cones by winding the rack bar 2 in the opposite direction, thus preparing the frame to receive a fresh lot of bobbins.

The crank 26 serves to lift the lower cone so as to relieve the tension on the belt, to

permit such return of'the belt. When the machine has been again put in motion by operation of the shipper rod 20 the knockoff lever will be restored to its normal position as indicated in Fig. 1, and the latch 22 will again engage its abutment to maintain the parts in the positions in which set.

All of the foregoing mechanism will be recognized as common in the modern roving frame. With such mechanism Iincorporate a plunger 27 guided to slide in two lug-eyes 28 and 29 formed on or secured to the samson 1 and at a point adjacent to the latch 22 above referred to. The plunger has a collar 30, or similar lateral projection, which overhangs the top of the latch 22 and issubject to the pressure of a stiff spiral spring 32 applied so as to press the latch downwardly or toward its abutment in the hole in the samson. The spring may be conveniently applied as indicated in the drawings, abutting at its upper end against thelug eye 30 and at its lower end on a collar 31 secured to the plunger. The tension of this spring is sufiicient to prevent the lifting of the latch by hand or by use of any ordinary tool and therefore prevents the disengagement of the pinions 7 and 8. Only through such disengagement can the cone belt be shifted or the tension be improperly changed. As a further safeguard against tampering with the cone belt the ends of the plunger are confined in their lug eyes 28 and 29 so as to present no part or projection against which purchase can be found wherewith to compress the spring or elevate the plunger. The operative is thus prevented from surreptitiousiy lifting the latch so as to enable him to use the handwheel 5 to, wind the cone belt back or forward on the cones and he is therefore obliged to correct any irregular condition in the roving by the proper change; that is to say, by changing the gear known as the twist gear. This is the gear that drives the cone 11 and does not appear in the drawings, because it is a wellknown part of every roving frame.

It will be evident that the latch 22 may engagewith any fixed abutment instead of with the margin of a hole inthe samson 1 as above explained, and'that it may be combined with any other'parts that the design of the'machine may afford, the essential purpose of the means of this invention being to prevent disconnection of the cone belt shifting mechanism from its machine drive by vention also includes the shielding of the latch, or such part as controls the connection, by means of a guard or closure such as indicated at 33in Figs. 3 and 4-. This guard consists ofahollow boX-like'casing, which may be secured to the samson, if desired,

and incloses the end of the latch so as to render it still more'diiiicult, if not impos sible, to lift or pry it ofl" of its abutment so as to disengage the pinions 8 and 7. This casing or guard may inclose all of the latch, if desired, or so much thereof as provides a likely tools 7 I claim:

purchase for the operatives handsor 1.'In a roving frame, the combination[ with the tension mechanism and means whereby the same is automatically disconnected from its driving element at theend of the run, of spring means having sufficient tension to prevent manual disconnection thereof in advance of such automatic operation.

2. In a roving frame, the combination with the tension mechanism and its automatic knock-off mechanism, of aspringap plied to the knock-off mechanism having sufficient tension to prohibit manual operation thereof but adapted to yield to the automatic operation thereof.

3. In a roving frame, the combination with tension mechanism having a knock-01f lever, a latch normally obstructing the action thereof, means for automatically releasing the latch to permit winding back and a spring applied to such latch adapted to prevent manual release thereof.

4. In a roving frame, the combination with the cone belt rack, connections whereby the rack is automatically advanced in one direction, manual means for restoring the rack by movement in the opposite direction,

and means for automatically disconnecting two elements of said connections at the end of the run to permit the manual operation of the rack, of spring means havingsuificient tension to prevent tion of said elements. c

5. In a roving frame, the combination with the cone belt rack, connections whereby manual disconnec-' the rack is automatically advanced in one direction, manual means for restoring the rack by movement in the opposite direction, means for disconnecting two elements of said connections, a latch normally obstructing the action of said means, and means for automatically releasing said latch at the end of the run, of a spring retainer cooperative with said latch to hold the same against manual operation but adapted to yield to the automatic operation thereof.

6. In a roving frame, the combination with the tension mechanism, and means including a latch whereby the same is automatically disconnected from a driving element at the end of the run, of spring means applied to said latch and having suflicient tension to prevent manual release thereof in advance of such automatic operation, and a guard for obstructing access to the'latch.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification in the presence of two wit nesses.

TIMOTHY OCONN ELL.

Witnesses ALEXANDER CAMERON, OSCAR L. OWEN.

Copies 01 this patent may be obtained to: five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

